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Twenty three year old preparing for April 20 bout in San Jose

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Jordan Mein of Lethbridge speaks with the media Tuesday at Champion’s Creed Gym in Calgary. The 23 year old UFC fighter will be taking on Mike Brown April 20 in San Jose. He has won 9 of his last 10 fights including three straight.

Photograph by: Ted Rhodes
, Calgary Herald

For most 23 year olds, a holiday in the mountains or at the lake is an ideal getaway from the daily grind of work. From the time Jordan Mein starts his vacations, he’s counting down the time until he can get back on the job.

“I’ll go hit the mountains, go chill in the mountains for a week or two. That’s always really relaxing. Getting in a lake and having a good time. But I’m super addicted to training and fighting,” said the Lethbridge native and one of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s top prospects.

“If I get too far away from it, it kicks me in the butt. So I stay close to it and it feels good.”

After making his pro debut at the age of 16 (when he fought another 16-year-old: current UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald), Mein fought six times in 2006, seven times in 2007, six times in 2010 and five times in 2011. This, in an era when a typical fighter will compete three or four times per year. It wasn’t out of the ordinary, then, when less than one week after making a successful UFC debut, Mein already had his next opponent lined up.

Popular welterweight Dan Hardy was forced out of action with a heart ailment, leaving Matt Brown without an opponent on this month’s UFC on FOX card. Enter Mein, who after knocking out Dan Miller at UFC 158 in Montreal on March 16 told UFC officials that night that he was healthy and ready to go as soon as they wanted him. That phone call came five days later.

While many fighters would decline such a quick turnaround, it was almost an extended break for Mein (27-8). In 2007, he fought five times between September and December. In 2011, he competed three times between January and April 2011, including bouts against UFC veterans Josh Burkman and Joe Riggs.

“As long as you’re healthy, I feel like you’ve got to be in there,” said Mein in an interview at Champions Creed MMA, as part of a media event held by UFC in advance of the April 20 bout in San Jose.

Though Mein had long been known within Canada as a fighter to watch, he made a name for himself on the big stage with his UFC debut, stopping the veteran Miller via TKO just 4:42 into the first round of their welterweight bout. It was the first time in Miller’s career he had been knocked out.

Among the eyes Mein opened with his victory: UFC president Dana White.

“We were very impressed with his performance. That’s why, when (the Hardy-Brown) fight fell apart, we put him in,” White told Postmedia News. “We replaced him because we were very blown away by his last fight. We like this kid.”

Mein is one of several 25-and-under standouts on the UFC roster, alongside the likes of Kelowna, B.C. welterweight MacDonald, bantamweight challenger Michael McDonald and light heavyweight Jon Jones, all of whom are just starting to tap into their talents.

He has grown up around the fight game, with a father for a promoter and manager in his hometown of Lethbridge, so he knows what it takes to catch the boss’s attention.

“That’s what promoters and business owners like to see, they like to see we’re there to fight. We’re not there to sit around. We have to be entertainers,” he said.

Mein, who as a teen first started watching UFC during the Tito Ortiz era a decade ago, appeared calm and collected after beating Miller. He didn’t sprint around the octagon or climb on top of the cage, instead acting like it was simply one of many victories he expects to come his way in the future.

“It was really rewarding. It finally sets in when you go home, watch the video, see the commentary and everything. Definitely give myself a pat on the back,” he said with a laugh.

“At the same time, it’s on to the next. You’ve got to keep moving and keep your career going.”

Spotlights

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Jordan Mein of Lethbridge speaks with the media Tuesday at Champion’s Creed Gym in Calgary. The 23 year old UFC fighter will be taking on Mike Brown April 20 in San Jose. He has won 9 of his last 10 fights including three straight.

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